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Animal Law: How, or will it help to bring about a compassionate society?

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Abstract

'Animal law' emerged as a distinct discipline in the United States in the 1990s. Despite some institutional resistance, it is now finding a place in the curriculum in Australian law schools. Animal Law was offered as an elective law course at Griffith Law School in February 2007. Using this course as a case study, this presentation will explore the nature of animal law, provide some justifications for why it is should be taught, and assess its significance in contributing to a more compassionate society. It will be argued that while the teaching of animal law can contribute to a richer ethical appreciation of our relationship with animals, overseas experience suggests there is no direct relationship between the emergence of animal law and practical legal outcomes improving the treatment of animals.

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Animal Law: How, or will it help to bring about a more compassionate society?